April 2009 LAKE LURE NEWS & VIEWS Page 8
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
by Chris Braund
I’ve had a number of discussions lately about lake levels. What can be done to avoid or minimize the 3-4 foot drop experienced last July and August? The impacts of the prolonged drought were significant on the lake and its feeding tributaries. As a result, we learned quite a bit about the functioning of our dam during extreme low-water conditions. We modified the operating procedures at the dam to minimize water release while maintaining the health of the immediate downstream area. Despite a good bit of rain since September, our area is still in drought status and these conditions could certainly strike again. We will remain vigilant and employ all appropriate measures to ensure the lake level is as high as possible during our peak season.
What are the plans for the lowering of the lake at the end of the 2009 season? Every three years, the town lowers the lake approximately 5 feet to enable the construction and repair of lake structures. In doing so, we recognize the balance of several interests:
· Marine and shoreline work that can best be done with the lake down…and contractors dependent upon such.
· Residents, visitors and lakefront businesses wishing to maximize recreational time with a full lake.
· Minimizing the time the lake is down, but also ensuring that there is a sufficient window for work (particularly state mandated requirements for concrete curing at the waterfront)
· Supporting the collegiate rowing activities in March
The dates for lowering the lake and for beginning to re-fill it are established by Town Council with guidance from staff. Once set, we will communicate frequently so that businesses and property owners can plan ahead.
We have full control over when we lower the lake. The Lake Advisory Board has recommended a “no earlier than following the weekend after Thanksgiving” policy. Thus, we plan to begin the drawdown around December 1st. We are looking at a 75-day maintenance window, starting the return to re-fill in mid-February. The time to get to full pond is always weather dependent. Construction projects at the lakefront may require several permits…please contact the town office for guidance on how to obtain these early. We advise not waiting until December to line up your winter projects.
TOWN COUNCIL ACTIVITIES
by Town Clerk Mary Flack
REGULAR MEETING: The regular town council meeting was held on Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 7:00 p.m., in the meeting room of the Lake Lure Municipal Center.
Under the “consent agenda,” Town Council approved and adopted:
* minutes of the February 10, 2009 (regular meeting and closed session), February 20, 2009 (special meeting and closed session) and February 24, 2009 (special meeting and closed session);
* Resolution No. 09-03-10 an administrative policy for the Town of Lake Lure regarding the maintenance of private roads and driveways in Lake Lure as submitted by the town manager;
* Resolution No. 09-03-10A amending the personnel policy of the Town of Lake Lure modifying the defined work period as submitted by the town manager;
* a request from Tammy Lewis to suspend the town’s alcohol ordinance in order to serve champagne, beer, and wine during a wedding reception being held inside the Community Hall of the Lake Lure Municipal Center on April 26, 2009, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.;
* a request as submitted from Michelle Yelton on behalf of the Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad Board of Governors regarding a fly-fishing tournament being held on May 2-3, 2009; waive the rental fees for use of town property and facilities, and suspend the town’s peddling ordinance in order that vendors may sell concessions and miscellaneous items during this event;
* a request as submitted from Doug Long on behalf of the Lake Lure Dragon Boat Racing to: (1) hold a Lake Lure Dragons Charity Festival on town property (Morse Park, Community Hall, and the pavilion) May 16, 2009; (2) waive the rental fees for use of town property and facilities; (3) waive the sign permit fees; (4) suspend the town’s peddling ordinance in order that vendors may sell concessions and miscellaneous items during this event; (5) a fabric structure permit as submitted; and
* a request from Thomas Coyne on behalf of the Lake Lure Lions Club to waive the fees for use of town property (Morse Park Meadows) for a plant sale fund-raiser to be held on April 11–12, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and suspend the town’s peddling ordinance during this event.
Town Council also:
* held a public hearing and did not adopt Ordinance No. 09-03-10 amending the Town of Lake Lure Subdivision Regulations, Title IX, Chapter 91 extending the time for which preliminary plat approvals are valid from one year to two years;
* held a public hearing and adopted Ordinance No. 09-03-10A as presented, amending the Town of Lake Lure Zoning Regulations, Title IX, Chapter 92, defining live-work units and adding them as a permitted use in the C-1 General Commercial, CN Commercial Neighborhood, CTC Commercial Town Center, and CG Commercial General zoning districts;
* held a public hearing and adopted Ordinance No. 09-03-10B as presented, amending the Town of Lake Lure Subdivision Regulations, Title IX, Chapter 91 concerning building and grading envelopes as well as an amendment to the Zoning Regulations, Title IX, Chapter 92, pertaining to Mountain and Hillside Development on existing lots of record;
* agreed by consensus not to accept the proposed agreement with Lake Lure Properties, LLC for the restoration, management, and operations of the Lake Lure Point gazebo property presented by George Wittmer; directed the town manager to review the items noted as needing maintenance work and/or repairs to get this property ready for the upcoming tourist season;
* directed Community Development Director Shannon Baldwin to write a memorandum on behalf of Town Council directing the Zoning and Planning Board to review the current regulations and draft amendments to clarify the language as to the requirements for fabric structures;
* approved the updated Memorandum of Understanding agreement relating to the Rural Planning Organization as presented by Joshua King on behalf of Isothermal Planning Development Commission; authorized the mayor to sign this agreement on behalf of the Town of Lake Lure;
* heard a request from Mike Saunders, Director of Customized Training and Development for Isothermal Community College, asking the town to provide space for continuing education, community workshops and classes;
* approved a request from Ken Jordan for a Fresh Local Art and Produce Market to be held on Tuesdays between April 21, 2009 and September 29, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. contingent upon the location and parking being coordinated with the manager, the police chief and the Lake Lure Tours Beach Manager Bo Williams; suspended the peddling ordinance during these events; waived the rental fee for use of town property (beside the Lake Lure ABC store) for the market; and denied approval of the request to waive the trash disposal fee; and
* held a closed session in accordance with G.S. 143-318.11(a) (3) to discuss attorney client privilege and legal matters.
In other activities:
* heard a report from the town manager;
* heard reports from council liaisons on the activities of various boards and committees; and
* heard announcement about vacancies on the Board of Adjustment/Lake Structures Board and the Lake Advisory Board; appointments for these positions will be made at the next regular town meeting being held on Tuesday, April 14, 2009.
COMMUNITY POLICING NEWS
by Chief Eric Hester
Officer Haynes will be in New Jersey soon for combat training preparing before his deployment to Iraq. He will be on duty for at least a year during this mission. We continue to ask that you lift him and his family up in your prayers each day to help keep him safe while he is defending our country.
Officer Leslie Meade was hired to fill in until Officer Haynes returns from his tour of duty. Officer Meade has about three years experience as a patrol officer and was previously working for The Laurel Park Police Department. She will be a great asset to the Police Department and comes to us with various law enforcement certifications and an expanded range of experience. Please welcome her to our community when you see out and about around town.
Youth Center
March seems to bring unpredictable weather and this one has allowed the children to spend a lot of days outside and make use of the tennis and basketball courts.
If anyone has a used couch in good condition that they would like to donate to the youth center, please let us know as ours is showing signs of some wear. We always appreciate the donations that come in each month, especially the healthy snacks for the children. Thank you for your continued support of our youth center.
POLICE REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2009
ALARM CALLS RECEIVED 4
ACCIDENTS 3
ARRESTS 4
BANK ALARMS 0
BREAKING AND ENTERINGS 0
BUSINESS CHECKS 7,103
CITATIONS ISSUED 43
COMMUNITY CONTACTS 923
EXTRA PATROLS 101
LAKE – CITATIONS 0
LAKE – COVE CHECKS 245
LAKE – PATROL 8
LARCENY REPORTS 1
REQUESTED RES. CHECKS 237
ROAD CHECKS 2,075
VANDALISM REPORTS 1
WARNINGS ISSUED 58
CASES CLEARED 4
CASES CLEARED BY ARREST 3
COMMUNITY FIRE NEWS
by Ron Morgan
Fire Hydrant Testing
The Lake Lure Fire Dept. will be flowing hydrants on the town water system during the month of April. This is regular testing to insure the hydrants are in good working order.
This testing may lower the water pressure temporarily while working in your area. You may also experience some dingy water as the increased flow pulls buildup inside the lines occasionally. We recommend you postpone washing your clothes, etc. if the water turns dingy until it clears up, which is usually within a few hours.
Outdoor Burning
Spring time weather has everyone outside cleaning up yard debris and getting ready for summer. Many of you will burn this debris in your yard. If you are planning to burn, remember to pick up a burning permit at the Lake Lure Fire Dept. beside the Municipal Golf course free of charge. Obtaining this permit complies with State regulations and lets us know who is burning when. As spring is our worst time for wild land fires due to low humidity, and wind, this permit will also allow us to contact you if a burning ban is issued. Please call us if you have questions concerning this or other issues at 828-625-9333.
ZONING & PLANNING BOARD NEWS
by Paula S. Jordan
As noted previously here, there has been a great deal of work going on in recent months to bring town regulations in line with the policies established in the 2007 – 2027 Comprehensive Plan. So how, you may be wondering, can a resident of the town keep up with the new regulations?
The answer: informational pamphlets, prepared by the Community Development Department and made available both on the town web site and in the lobby at Town Hall.
Online, go to Lake Lure’s home page at www.townoflakelure.com, scan down the column on the right side of the screen to find the section labeled Town Regulations, and click on the words “Informational Pamphlets” just below that heading. At Town Hall you’ll find the printed brochures in wall-mounted racks just to the right of the reception desk.
The one-page pamphlets are not intended to provide fully detailed information on the various regulations. That would be impossible. Rather, they answer key questions that a resident might ask when first considering, say, putting up a new commercial sign or building a new home. Then they give directions for obtaining more complete information and guidance either in the full town regulations (also available online or at Town Hall) or through consultations with town staff.
Pamphlets are provided on the following subjects:
1. Construction
House Construction, Commercial Buildings, Certificate of Zoning Compliance,
Conditional Use Permit, Sewer Connection
2. Lake Front Construction
Construction on Lakefront Property, Lake Structures, Boathouse, Shoreline Stabilization
3. Environmental Management
Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Flood Damage Prevention, Streams & Construction, Trout Buffer, Tree Protection in Subdivison Development, Tree Protection on lots with development, Tree Protection on lots without development
4. Subdivisions
Subdivision, Minor Subdivision, Preliminary Plat, Final Plat, Conservation Subdivision, Improvements Guarantee
5. Signs
Sign ordinance, Real Estate Sign
6. Administrative Actions
Amendment to Zoning Map (Rezoning, Amendment to Zoning Regulations, Variances
Pamphlets are currently being prepared on mountain and hillside development, and will be prepared for other new regulations as they are finalized.
While you’re visiting the town web site, don’t forget to click on “The Latest Town News” link, located front and center on the main page, just below that beautiful Lake Lure picture. This section is updated as news occurs, to help you stay up-to-date on town issues and happenings.
The Zoning and Planning Board advises the town on land use and related issues, researching and formulating new or amended town regulations for consideration by the Town Council. It also reviews applications for development and passes along recommendations regarding development applications to the Town Council and/or to the Board of Adjustment. The Board meets at Town Hall at 9:30 AM on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Members are Dick Washburn (Chair), Tony Brodfuhrer (Vice Chair), Bill Bush, Paula Jordan, and Dominick Samarotto. Russ Pitts is the Town Council liaison to the board.
SEDIMENT AND EROSION CONTROL NEWS
by Clint Calhoun, Erosion Control Officer
As most folks know, this is the year that the lake comes down. This will give folks an opportunity to repair their various boathouses, docks, and stabilize their shorelines. Repair of seawalls and bulkheads and overall stabilization of shorelines is critical in preventing shoreline erosion and sedimentation into the lake. When it comes to sedimentation into the lake we have a tendency to focus on the streams that flow into the lake, however large amounts of sediment are introduced into the lake from the shoreline itself as it is eroded by wave action as well as freeze/thaw processes where the bank is cut and unvegetated. Because the need to stabilize shorelines is so great, I will be doing a series of articles (as space permits) to make sure people are ready to start working as soon as the lake level is down. This month I want to just do a summary of what needs to happen and in what order